[Open] Remembering one of the good guys

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Anyone who knew/cared about Herc!
WHAT: A wake for Herc
WHEN: Around now, the 10th of Egg
WHERE: Tavern!
NOTES: Drinking, grief, etc.

There aren't any formalities here. The Calling has taken another Grey Warden, but for once he was known to more than Wardens and mourned by more than them too. The music is lively to start with, mostly because Herc probably would have grumped if it had all been sad and there's a tab at the bar open to anyone worthy. Granted, one has to manage to be polite to all the Grey Wardens for the duration of the wake to be deemed worthy, but that's not too hard, is it?

Hit up the bar, share a story, complain about how he owed you money, and remember someone who deserves it.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Inessa shakes her head, not blaming him any more than she blames the other Wardens who managed to reach Weisshaupt. "You did what you could. It's not your fault that events spiraled out of control. I wish I could say that it's on a downswing now, but...I don't think so. Overthrowing the Anderfels is hardly a move that guarantees peace. Interfering in politics has not always gone well in the Wardens' favor."

Maybe it did for Warden-Commander Cousland, but that had been a different time and under different circumstances. And he'd managed to do it without getting the Grey Wardens exiled from Ferelden again. They'd narrowly avoided it in Orlais as well; who's to say it wouldn't happen up north, if the tide turned?

[justice_is_blond]

"I think she can't go further than overthrowing the Anderfels is what I mean to say. Not if she has any sense to her. Of course, that does assume some sort of sense." Which isn't always a safe bet, especially when Corypheus is influencing people. He wonders how close they came to running into him, back in Weisshaupt.

"And that Corypheus wants to build up a stronghold, a base, rather than stirring up more of a war."

[circleprodigy]

"Sense is, sadly, in short supply these days. Would that it were otherwise." Inessa's lips curve in a slight apologetic smile. "I don't expect anything good to come out of that corner of Thedas for the time being, which makes me all the more grateful that the griffons were rescued. That the lost companions of the Grey Wardens didn't emerge only to remain in the wrongs hands is a true relief."

Her mabari huffles, perhaps jealous? But further head-patting seems to mollify him.

[justice_is_blond]

"And they're not corrupted. They've a chance at coming back in full. And also a chance at biting every person in Skyhold, considering them. But sharp beaks are worth it."

The mabari gets a glance and a small smile, though Anders isn't about to reach down and pet. Instead, he holds Purrelden a little closer to the mabari so she can sniff at him instead of trying to leap from Anders' arms for the same purpose.

"What's his name? This is Purrelden. Short for Hero of Purrelden." Cat puns and Warden jokes, is there a better combination? Anders doesn't think so.

[circleprodigy]

That name gets a soft laugh out of Inessa, unable to help herself. "A very distinguished name. I also went the Warden route; his name is Garahel. Every city elf alive knows his story, and when this one imprinted on me, I knew what I had to call him." She watches closely as the cat and mabari check each other out, the latter perking up and sniffing back. "I have yet to get very close when it comes to the griffon hatchlings, let alone within biting range. Maybe one day, with someone who knows them better than I."

[justice_is_blond]

The laugh has him narrowing his eyes a little. It's familiar, in a way he can't quite place. But then she's telling him her mabari's name and his smile widens.

"Of course you did. And I know them well enough... but they still try to bite. It's been implied that they may for a good, long time. They're griffons. But I... Have I seen you before? Somewhere before Weisshaupt?"

[circleprodigy]

A little surprised -and maybe flattered- he would find her familiar at all, Inessa nods. "It's very likely, though I was just a child when you were last in Kinloch Hold. I lived there since I was nearly five, until the Circles fell. Then I sought the Grey Wardens." A shadow passes over her face. "I could never forget how they saved us, when Uldred's takeover would have cost us everything. That debt had to be repaid. I still feel that way, even...even after everything."

Perhaps she wouldn't, if there hadn't been any rogue Wardens to make her escape possible, if they hadn't proven that they weren't going to succumb to the desperate madness that consumed the rest.

[justice_is_blond]

Now he looks a little surprised, though that sobers quickly. Uldred's takeover, and Cullen's wrath. They would have made a very dangerous combination if not for Jonas.

"Your name is... A... Alessa?" He's not right, he's nearly certain of that. If he's lucky, which he never is, he might be close. But it's been a very long time since he saw her running around underfoot, and much of his attention had been directed at getting out.

"They did save us." And then betrayed him. But Herc had saved him again, so he's back in the Warden's debt. "I'm glad you're here. Even if I know I just mangled your name."

[circleprodigy]

That gets her to smile and she shakes her head, not offended. "I'm Inessa. And it's alright. I would have been very surprised if you did remember it. I was a quiet, tiny thing, even more than I am now, and always with my nose in a book." After life in the alienage, which didn't really have the same educational opportunities, the notion of stacks upon stacks of books, so tall one needed a ladder to read some of them, was a delight. She never quite lost that reverence.

"I'm glad to be here, more than I can say. I had feared I'd undergone the Joining, only to waste away in that fortress. At least here, there's the opportunity to make a difference."

[justice_is_blond]

So many did waste away and die in the fortress... but at least there are some here. And the griffons. Anders has a habit of getting mired down with the losses anymore and forgetting the positive sides until he's reminded of them. Weisshaupt was a draw, not a loss. Some survived, and griffons are back.

"I'm glad you're here." That she knows who he is without him saying and she's civil toward him makes him all the more glad. "If there's anything I can do to help you adjust to our camp or Skyhold, let me know? And if there's nothing immediate, I may resume mingling."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa sees no point in bringing up the past, a subtle(ish) nod to the fact that it's the present they should be focusing on. Judgment was rendered and as far as she's concerned, that's that. She nods, holding Garahel back from being a pest at the cat. (Not that he's anything but a good-natured pest, but still. This is a wake, and she won't have an incident.) "Don't let us detain you. We'll see you back at camp."